The Convention on Biological Diversity, 11th meeting of Conference of the Parties (CBD COP 11) got underway at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, India. An estimated 5000 delegates from all over the globe have congregated at the CBD COP 11 venue in this historic Indian city to find solutions to the most pressing issues facing biodiversity conservation.

Photo: Sameer Singh/IUCN

Mr. Hoshino Kazuaki - representative of the Ministry of Environment, Japan and Mr. Ryu Matsumoto - former minister for Environment declared the opening of the CoP11 and handed over the presidency to Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan - Minister of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

Ms. Natarajan in her opening remarks stated the need for all parties to mobilize resources to achieve the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets which are part of the strategic plan agreed at COP 10 in Nagoya, Japan in 2010. Speaking on the occasion she said, "We have been provided a singular opportunity to collectively decide the allocation of resources to generate momentum to achieve the Aichi targets - expenditure on biodiversity needs to be looked at as an investment for future generations and not as costs".

In his opening remarks, CBD Executive Secretary Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza stressed on the need to put in energy and resources into implementing the Aichi targets. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. de Souza urged the parties to ratify the convention within the next COP.

Addressing the inaugural session of the COP11, de Souza drew linkages between global business sector and the Aichi targets. "I urge you to mobilize the financial resources to enable developing countries to achieve the 2020 targets" he said. He also called on urgent attention to all parties and stakeholders to ensure the implementation of at least half of the targets by 2015 if significant progress was to be achieved by the end of the decade.

Speaking at a side event on IUCN's contribution to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets on October 9, Jane Smart - head of IUCN delegation and Global Director of IUCN Biodiversity Conservation Group and Species Program remarked that the IUCN knowledge products support the implementation of the 2020 Aichi biodiversity targets which underpins the entire IUCN program for 2013-2016. The event discussed on how IUCN's Aichi roles and policy could contribute to the articulation and delivery of the targets in countries.

The 11th meeting of the parties is scheduled to be held from 8 - 19 October.